French club Lyon denounced “fake news” amid reports that captain Nabil Fekir's signature for Liverpool in a £53 million ($71 million, €60 million) deal was imminent.

“In this period of transfers when the slightest rumour is often presented as reality, Lyon would like to underline that only information released on the club's website is reliable,” the club said in a statement.

Lyon categorically denied media reports suggesting that a transfer would take place within hours which would bring 24-year-old Fekir to Anfield once finishes duty for France at the World Cup in Russia.

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told AFP in a statement that “no deal has been done, and certainly not at the price” of 70 million Euros ($82 million) as reported by the French sports newspaper L'Equipe.

Fekir, who can play in both midfield or attack, is wanted by Liverpool to fill the creative void left by January departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January. The Merseysiders were reported to be keen to close the deal before Fekir jets off to Russia following France's final warm-up friendly against the United States in Lyon on Saturday.

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